“In The Staying” by Juliette Stewart is a Return to Country Music’s Roots

I don’t listen to country music.

As a self-proclaimed music fanatic, I often find myself in the position of telling people that my playlists consist of a little bit of everything, just not country. The only exception I have ever made for the genre is Mitski’s 2023 album, The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We.

That, and now Juliette Stewart’s “In The Staying.”

Beginning with classic country music elements such as twangy guitar and strings that sigh, “In The Staying” pushes expectations away once Stewart’s rich timbre debuts. It’s so drastically unlike any vocals often found in country music, but it grounds the instrumentals in a way that even the most mainstream country songs lack. Rather than Stewart’s voice adapting to the brightness of the backing music, the accompaniment fills to complement Stewart’s depth. This blend channels the true Americana heartbreak and relatability that modern country music diverges from.

Intensely visual lyrics follow through the entire track, and the opening lyrics set this tone immediately when Stewart sings, “The sun falls through each morning / Paints the inside of this room orange / As I look around, I wonder / ‘Is this where I belong?’” As Stewart laments the internalized struggle of choosing oneself when courage is required, she pairs it with poetry that serves as the balm to the meaning’s inflicted wound. It’s hard to cry to lyrics like, “I’ve been holding to the hurting / without an easy place to land / Hung from strings between the fingers / of the puppetmaster’s hands,” when the means of delivery are too beautiful to ignore.

Released on March 27, “In The Staying” is only the third song released by Stewart, yet a solid demonstration of her sound development. This single is easily the most self-assured of her releases, as seen in the vulnerable lyricism coupled with the cinematic instrumentation arranged by cellist Dave Eggar.

Stewart herself boasts a musical history ranging from classical music to jazz to folk, showcased in the genre-bending example that is “In The Staying.” Her heavenly vocal flexibility and placement exhibit these classical and musical theater foundations, and even the clearly apparent knowledge of conflicting genres is what cements “In The Staying” as an indie country must-listen for even the biggest country music haters.

“In The Staying” precedes the release of Stewart’s debut EP, which will arrive in 2026 and feature her award-winning song “Callaway.” With the poise that “In The Staying” exudes, and the fact that the song immediately found a home on my April playlist, it’s safe to assume that this upcoming EP will be only the beginning of Stewart’s budding career.